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Walton schools work to cut energy costs (DOCUMENTS)

By KATIE TAMMEN / Daily News

Published: Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 12:10 PM.

Lights are going out at Walton County schools as the district strives to reduce its energy use.

The school district has worked with an energy conservation company called Cenergistic for almost two years to identify ways to cut its utility costs. In the first 17 months of the program, the district saved more than $1.3 million.

“It was all about behavior,” said Michelle Doggett, the district’s energy education specialist. “There is a tremendous opportunity for you to save your money and usage.”

The savings were identified through a base reading of the district’s energy use in 2011. Prior to that year, energy costs were increasing annually, Doggett said.

During the first two years of the four-year contract with Cenergistic, Doggett said the district made a few surprising discoveries

“It was actually using what we have in some cases,” she said. “The technology was there in the new schools.”

The annual utility bill for the district is about $2.4 million since the changes have been implemented.

For their efforts thus far, the school district was recognized with an Energy Excellence award from Cenergistic.

Doggett said she has high hopes for more savings.

“We have increased square footage but dropped costs,” she said. “When we’re starting these new projects, we’re pulling together a group of people and saying, ‘How can we make this work? How can we save energy?’ ”

Lights are going out at Walton County schools as the district strives to reduce its energy use.

The school district has worked with an energy conservation company called Cenergistic for almost two years to identify ways to cut its utility costs. In the first 17 months of the program, the district saved more than $1.3 million.

“It was all about behavior,” said Michelle Doggett, the district’s energy education specialist. “There is a tremendous opportunity for you to save your money and usage.”

The savings were identified through a base reading of the district’s energy use in 2011. Prior to that year, energy costs were increasing annually, Doggett said.

During the first two years of the four-year contract with Cenergistic, Doggett said the district made a few surprising discoveries

“It was actually using what we have in some cases,” she said. “The technology was there in the new schools.”

The annual utility bill for the district is about $2.4 million since the changes have been implemented.

For their efforts thus far, the school district was recognized with an Energy Excellence award from Cenergistic.

Doggett said she has high hopes for more savings.

“We have increased square footage but dropped costs,” she said. “When we’re starting these new projects, we’re pulling together a group of people and saying, ‘How can we make this work? How can we save energy?’ ”